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| Jonathan Collins; Gentleman | |
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| Topic Started: 24 Aug 2008, 07:16 PM (75 Views) | |
| Aztec Gold | 24 Aug 2008, 07:16 PM Post #1 |
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Username: Jonathan How did you find out about AG: I still live here First Name: Jonathan Last Name: Collins Nickname: None Age: Twenty-eight Sex: Male Ethnicity: English Country of Birth: Scarborough, Yorkshire, England Current Whereabouts: Port Royal Occupation: Gentleman Former Occupation(s): Captain of Marines Parents: Sir Samuel and Mary Siblings: Henry Children: Benjamin (aged nine) Avatar: Mark Strong Description: The Yorkshireman is not a tall man, nor is he particularly sturdily-built. In fact, he presents a somewhat unremarkable figure phyically. His limbs tend toward being a little gangly but he manages to avoid seeming awkward most of the time. While not the most graceful of men, he carries himself with an upright, proud bearing. It's his bearing that attracts first notice. After his return to his home county, Jonathan began regaining his lost sense of self. His recovered confidence now shows in his carriage. A pair of blue-grey eyes sit above a hawkish nose and are overshadowed slightly by bushy eyebrows. His face is thin and free of freckles, and his blond hair and fair complection suggest Viking ancestry. In contrast to the often-gloomy pall that once rested over his features, he has regained his sense of cheerfulness and can often be seen smiling. A testament to this change can be found in his decision to grow sideburns, which he keeps carefully trimmed. While he was in the Corps, he would never have considered such a thing, but his greatly-bettered situation has brought him to change many things. In place of the scarlet and white that once was his daily attire, he has a more varied wardrobe. His wife made it her goal to outfit him as a proper country gentleman should be, which resulted in the purchase of several new suits of clothes. Of these, his favourite is a fine suit of green and grey. He is especially fond of the velvet coat. To top it off, he prefers a brown felt tricorne cut similarly to his old black officer's tricorne. Should any of his marines encounter him now, they were scarcely recognise him. Gone is the often-gloomy captain they had known. His demeanour has undergone a great change, falling back years to the cheerful and buoyant manner that had been his as a young lad. Going home was the best thing he could have done for himself. In leaving behind the surroundings that had helped contribute to his gloom and depression, Jonathan took the first step toward recovering his old self. One thing that has not changed is his loyalty. He holds great faith in his family and considers nothing to be so precious as his wife and son. There is little that could replace either one in his heart. During his time in Port Royal, he came to regard Port Royal's marines as an adopted extended family, as a means of helping himself cope with being so far from home. Now that he has come back to Jamaica, he looks forward to renewing acquaintances with the men of Fort Charles. Going hand-in-hand with that is a sense of duty to acquit himself as well as he can, no matter what the task. While he had held a commission, he had often struggled to accomplish that and just as often failed. Much of that was due to his drinking habit. Having firmly resolved to never take a drop of brandy or other alcohol again, his confidence and focus have rebounded. Jonathan has no intention to seek another officer's commission, but rather to help his father-in-law's man of business establish a foothold for the baron's trading interests. Strengths & Weaknesses: Strengths
Weaknesses
History: Jonathan was born to a modestly well-to-do family in Yorkshire. From a young age, he was surrounded by the history and prestige of a family long dedicated to service to the Crown. The land and manor that he called home had been granted to his father in recognition for his gallantry during the War of Spanish Succession. In addition to the land, Jonathan's father also received a knighthood, which he grew highly proud of. He used his title and land-holding to establish a comfortable living for his small family. Jonathan was raised in the shadow of his father's reputation, constantly reminded of the brave deeds Sir Samuel had done. His older brother Henry left home as soon as their father could purchase a commission for him, and he was sent to the 33rd Regiment as a lieutenant. Jonathan was only five when his brother left and had few memories of him. Henry was gone for several years, but he wrote often of his experiences. Their mother made a point of reading each letter aloud to Jonathan. The boy loved such times, as they provided ample fuel for his young imagination and he often took to riding around the estate pretending he was fighting some unseen foe, like he was sure his brother was doing. After a few years, the news came that Henry had changed regiments, joining Edward Wolfe's Regiment of Marines. There was trouble brewing across the sea, according to his letters, and he was keen to go and help quell it. Jonathan was barely twelve when word of war breaking out with Spain reached Hayworth House. His father and his friends wasted little time speculating on the causes of the war, and the likely outcome. It was all beyond Jonathan but he had found his attention fully distracted by a lass from Scarborough. Miss Sarah Farrow was the young daughter of Baron George Farrow, and had the prettiest face Jonathan had ever seen. Though only twelve, he undertook a shy sort of courtship that soon earned him the young lass' notice. Their families thought it only a passing attraction and made no effort to discourage Jonathan from visiting from the Farrow estate. As the boy reached his mid-teens, however, it became apparent that his affections were not the product of youthful innocence. Miss Farrow's brothers in particular objected to Jonathan's constant presence and made it clear that he was not welcome on the estate. He was not so easily dissuaded from his pursuit of courtship, however. His visits became clandestine, on those occasions when his family was not attending social events at Farrow Manor. His efforts naturally gained him the dislike of the Farrow brothers, though he refused to let their opposition deter him. Miss Farrow returned his affections and that was all he cared about. The determination to continue his courtship soon brought him to trouble, for he was caught by the Farrow brothers while riding toward a small alcove on the baron's land. It had been a place where he and Miss Farrow met regularly. The incident was embarrassing and Jonathan was too ashamed at his carelessness to leave Hayworth House for days afterward. During his self-isolation, several letters from his brother arrived and he read them eagerly. The path to redeeming his repuation became clear and he penned a letter, entrusting it to his manservant for delivery to Farrow Manor. He received a reply within days and the agreement was made. The meeting took place close on to midnight, in a church in Scarborough. The vicar was a cheerful older gentleman who was only too happy to oblige the son of Sir Samuel. Jonathan and his bride departed Scarborough for York that same night, believing it a safe enough distance from their respective homes to allow them a few days of peace. For the first day and a half, they managed to elude discovery, until the Farrow brothers turned up in the city. With their secret on the verge of being exposed, the newlyweds cut short their stay and returned to Scarborough, though taking care to remain separate for the journey. Jonathan rode ahead of the rented carriage and arrived back at Hayworth House half a day before Sarah. Their troubles were not over, however, for Baron Farrow himself paid a call to Hayworth House in search of Jonathan. His purpose for calling was to defend his daughter's honour, for he believed it had been slighted. A loud quarrel soon followed and ended with a challenge and demand for satisfaction. Luckily for Jonathan, his father was able to soothe the baron's temper. The eighteen year-old kept himself carefully out of sight for a little over a week before venturing into Scarborough proper again, where he happened to cross paths with his young wife and her maid. The meeting began innocently enough, though Jonathan found it difficult to keep his affections contained. The peace of the afternoon was broken by the unexpected arrival of one of Sarah's brothers and Jonathan found himself once again challenged to an affair of honour. It was too much for the young man to bear and he chose to forego the option of employing swords. In the confusion that ensued after he struck down the larger man, he escaped the market for Hayworth House, where he wasted little time gathering a saddle-bag of clothing. He fled Scarborough that very night, rightfully afraid for his life. Mere days after reaching London, he sought out a commission to serve as a King's officer. He was soon taken on as a lieutenant in William Robinson's Regiment of Marines, though he only served for a few months before the regiment was disbanded. His commission was transferred to the 11th Regiment of Foot, where he remained for two years. He volunteered for sea-service duty and was sent aboard HMS Spear of fifty guns to take command of the company of soldiers. The assignment lasted three years, when he was moved to HMS Cornwall of seventy-four guns. As part of the Channel fleet, he found a reliable form of employment and did his best to save his pay, thinking to send for Sarah when he could afford to. He had acquired a taste for brandy since taking his commission, however, and what little pay he did not squander on the drink was not enough to use for anything. Despite his growing fondness for brandy, Jonathan was given a promotion to first lieutenant not long after his twenty-third birthday, and with it an assigment to the Mediterranean. He served there for just over three years before being reassigned to the Channel fleet. The opportunity to enjoy a fortnight's leave to return home was presented to him, but he was sure that he would be lynched on the spot if he set foot in Scarborough again and did not take the leave. Shortly after rejoining the Channel fleet, he learned that his brother was serving aboard a second-rate ship called HMS Cambridge, 80, as a Captain of Marines. The brothers shared a happy reunion and Henry was only too willing to tell stories of his exploits. Their brief service together was ended when Jonathan received orders to go aboard HMS Mercury, 20, which was bound for the Caribbean. The orders carried with them his confirmation as Captain of Marines as well and his brother insisted on celebrating his good fortune with a rousing party aboard Cambridge. The party lasted nearly until Jonathan was due to depart, and he staggered aboard Mercury barely aware of his surroundings. He had been in command of Port Royal's marine garrison for just shy of a year when the attack by Black Pearl took place. The incident was sufficient to shake him out of his depression for a time and he began focussing on the needs of his marines as he was supposed to do. As the town recovered from the pirate attack, the bulk of the marine garrison separated into sea-companies and went aboard Dauntless to affect a pursuit of the pirate ship. Many days passed with no sign of the mysterious ship, until a sharp-eyed able seaman perched in the royal yards spotted a distant column of smoke rising against the horizon. The promise of apprehending their sea-going quarry seemed certain as the second-rate sailed for the place called Isla de la Muerta. The majority of Dauntless' company of sailors and marines were crowded into the ship's boats, forming an ambushing party. Jonathan had settled into the jollyboat, wisely separate from the Commodore in the longboat. It wouldn't do for two senior officers to be lost in the event of accident. The would-be ambushers waited just off-shore until the unexpected pealing of Dauntless' bell alerted them to the danger to their ship. Every boat came about quickly and the oarsmen pulled with all their strength. All they knew was their ship, their home, was in peril. Cannon fire reached out to greet them, one shot landing so close to the jollyboat that two larboard oars were broken and an oarsman knocked overboard. The quick-thinking tillerman threw a rope to the man, but there was no slowing to pull him back aboard. Sailors in the bow of each boat let fly grappling hooks as the boats drifted close to Dauntless, the oars having stilled in the looms. The marines were the first to haul themselves up the ropes and wasted little time throwing themselves into the fight. Jonathan stumbled as he pulled himself over the side, his foot catching in the crossbelt of a dead marine. This momentary clumsiness saved him from being run through the chest by a cutlass-wielding pirate, who was bayoneted by a marine immediately following Jonathan. The Yorkshireman gave no thought to anything but the battle, until it came to its abrupt end. While the triumphant defenders cheered, he looked around the deck and saw only blue- and red-coated bodies. After attending to his men, Jonathan retired below to his cabin and was soon lost in the warm stupor that came from overindulgence in brandy. The dead were buried at sea and Dauntless returned home. Their work was far from over, however. There were captured pirates to be tried and appropriately punished. The hanging of the pirate Sparrow was meant to be the crowning event, but the supposedly-routine execution went completely and embarrassingly awry. Jonathan held the dubious honour of standing on the far-side of the parade ground, near the young bugler Shepherd, and was unable to reach the melee before it was ended. The Commodore and his two senior officers were attending to the disturbance, so Jonathan busied himself with the task of clearing the parade ground of civilians. When it was known that Sparrow had escaped and the Commodore had allowed him a day's headstart, the marine officers grumbled about the prospect of returning to sea so soon. They had a day to prepare for the chase, however, and there was no time for complaining. Stores and weapons were taken aboard Dauntless and carefully stowed, and the garrison was assembled on the parade ground to practise the intricate movements of the Manual of Arms, so a repeat of the previous day's embarrassment would not happen. Dawn on the morning of departure was cool and misty, and found Dauntless' marines already aboard and settling into their ship-board routines. Within an hour of sunrise, the second-rate was tacking out of the harbour to begin the hunt. They were at sea for a little over a week when a storm overtook them, with gales so fierce that many older sailors called it a hurricane. It was nearly impossible to remain topside with the wind slashing brutally across the weather deck, carrying away hats and sending waves crashing over the midships rails. If it was unpleasant topside, it was even more so below decks. The ship's officer complement had passed an uncomfortable dinner in the Commodore's great cabin, with the junior midshipmen finding it especially difficult to hold down their meals. While several of the sea officers ventured topside at the dinner's conclusion, Jonathan and his lieutenants staggered to their tiny cabins and did their best to ignore their own discomfort. The call of All Hands was piped almost immediately and Dauntless tacked about, fleeing the storm before it could grow any worse. The rapid reefing of sails, aided by marines who helped heave on the braces and backstays, was not quick enough to save the main topgallant sail, which tore free from the yardarm and took two sailors with it. This was reported the following day, after the second-rate had beat up toward calmer waters. Dauntless retired back to Port Royal to begin repairs to her damaged rigging, and did not resume the pursuit of the fugitive Sparrow. There was, as ever, a great deal of work that demanded attention after returning to their home port, and Jonathan soon fell victim to the heavy weight of stress. He suffered a fall near the hospital and was swiftly carried inside, where the able chief surgeon prepared for surgery. Of all the men in the fort, Finch the surgeon knew best what was ailing the Captain of Marines. The hastily-conducted surgery saved the Yorkshireman's life, though the path to recovery promised to be long and demanded sacrifices. He was strongly advised to give up brandy and other similar drinks, which he grudgingly admitted to be sound advice. The incision on his midsection had not been stitched and bandaged a week before he became the unfortunate object of a joke conceived by two of his corporals. While attending a meeting over tea aboard Dauntless, Jonathan, Norrington, and their noble guest fell prey to a dose of laudanum that had been added to the tea pot. The laudanum had come from Jonathan's own cabin, where the cane he had been given was also kept. Unbeknownst to him, the pranksters had swapped the cane for a specially-created replica. When Jonathan sent his attendant to retrieve his hat and cane, he soon discovered the deception. The altered cane broke as he was making his way down the gangplank and he fell head-long into the harbour. He remembers little of what happened afterward. Being temporarily incapacitated, his first lieutenant assumed the responsibility of awarding punishment to the guilty parties. The two corporals - McIntyre and Jones - were spared a flogging but the drunk-on-watch marines were not so lucky. Jonathan was unable to attend the floggings, but he heard well enough the outcome. A written order prohibiting the marines from going near the officers' cabins was issued by the Commodore, to prevent future incidents. It was a directive that Jonathan agreed fully with, though he was privately amused by the cleverness of the prank. He was shortly walking about again, as his proper cane had mysteriously reappeared outside his office at the fort. Scarcely a week after the prank, a letter arrived from Scarborough. Though the date recorded on it meant that the letter had been penned several years past, it was written in a very familiar hand and bore news that he never imagined he'd hear. Sarah had borne him a son. The grievance held against him had been forgotten. He was free to return home if he so chose. The letter placed a difficult dilemma before him, and he spent several weeks weighing his priorities. Returning home to Yorkshire was very tempting but he was unwilling to simply abandon his marines. For all their tendencies toward getting into trouble, they were a brave lot and completely loyal to each other. He had grown to consider them as a large, motley gathering of sons and the prospect of leaving them was difficult to consider. The arrival of the East India Trading Company soon made up his mind for him. On the same day that the Company's chairman set foot ashore in Port Royal, Jonathan found himself speaking far too freely than was prudent. His commission was demanded, but he elected to resign it and spare the disgrace of being relieved. Days later, a brawl broke out between his marines and a group of Company men, which heightened the tension around the fort. Incensed by the audacity of the brawlers and well-aware that Lord Beckett would shortly be howling for blood, Jonathan instructed his first lieutenant to award each brawler fifty lashes. It was a harsh sentence for a relatively common-place offence, but he felt that a clear signal to the marines had to be made. The Yorkshireman ordered a full parade of the marine garrison to witness the punishment. When all the men had assembled, he issued a general order prohibiting future confrontations and made it expressly clear that the garrison was not to provoke the Company men in any way. Then, to every man's surprise, he announced his resignation and promoted his first lieutenant. In this manner, he left the King's service. He obtained passage back to England aboard a merchant sloop and endured a rough voyage. Much to the surprised delight of the merchant crew, the former Captain of Marines lent a hand about ship when he was able. His assistance made the long journey seem to pass just a little more quickly, but it was still nearly two months before the ship made port at Spithead. Relieved to be back in England again after so long, Jonathan sought lodgings at an inn just outside of Portsmouth. He remained there for precisely two days as he recovered his land-going sense. Then he boarded the coach bound for the north and began the long journey across England toward his home county. It was a miserable, rain-soaked day when the coach finally reached Scarborough. Jonathan had no sooner alighted from the coach than he was approached by a woman in an oiled cloak. He did not recognise her until she spoke to him, and his joy at the greeting was such that he seized his wife and swept her up in a relieved embrace. Thus it was that he returned home to Yorkshire. Despite his uncertainty about how he would be received, the welcoming that awaited him at Hayworth House was grand indeed. It almost seemed as though he had been expected. When his brother appeared, looking quite smart in his red coat, Jonathan understood. There were no secrets in the Channel fleet. His homecoming was also the first time he had beheld his son, a healthy and lively boy of nearly nine years. Sarah had named him Benjamin, an apt choice for the lad. To Jonathan's delight, the boy accepted his abrupt return happily, as if he had only been gone a fortnight instead of years. It was a pleasant and disturbance-free occasion, for which he was grateful. He settled into the leisurely-paced life on his father's estate and was glad for the peace. There were no parades to attend, no inspections to conduct, no wayward marines to be flogged. Nothing was expected of him, beyond the requisite of rising in the morning and plodding through the day. He filled his time with walks and rides around the estate with his wife and son during the day, with his evenings devoted to attending dinners, balls, and other such gatherings. The slow, drifting days soon began to bore him, however. He thoroughly enjoyed being home with his family, but the lack of bustle was something he found difficult to adjust to. With his brother gone to return to his ship and his marines, Jonathan began wondering if Yorkshire was the right place for him. He had spent many years living in foreign ports and aboard ships, amongst the rough humour and manners of marines. It was, he realised, something that he missed. To his surprise, Sarah was not critical of the feeling when he expressed it, and even suggested re-purchasing his commission. The idea was tempting, but he was hesitant to leave his family again, so soon after returning to them. He spent a fortnight considering the dilemma, discussing it with both his wife and his father. It was not until young Benjamin asked about Jamaica that Jonathan made up his mind. No one objected to his decision to return to the Caribbean. In fact, preparations for the long voyage were begun immediately. He was privately relieved to be going back to Port Royal, even knowing the circumstances in which he had left. It had been months since he had returned to England and he was ready to cross the ocean again, to the humid, oppressive heat of the West Indies. His father kindly offered the use of his chaise, which allowed the small family to travel the four miles into Scarborough in relative comfort. There was a merchant sloop lying at anchor there awaiting them, her captain an acquaintance of Baron Farrow. The return voyage to Jamaica was blessed with pleasant weather and accompanying wind. Their vessel dropped anchor in Port Royal's harbour a little over a month after setting out from Scarborough. Jonathan went ashore happily, thinking of the great surprise in store for the men at the fort when he called upon them after becoming settled in lodgings. He had no idea that something terrible had happened after he'd left. To his eye, nothing was different; there were still marines patrolling the streets and docks and there were still townspeople going about their daily businesses. The truth is soon to make itself known to him however. Sample/Past Roleplay: See Spot run! Run Spot run! |
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4:10 PM Nov 19